Method and means for introducing flavor imparting agents into manufactured tobacco articles



3,026,881 AVOR IMPARTING 0 ARTICLES W. T. CA NS FOR INTROD O MANUFACTU Filed Dec March 27, 1962 METHOD AND MEA AGENTS INT ING FL RED TOBACC 28, 1959 INVENTOR. Zler Z Um BY W @fi 4 NT 7 3,026,881 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 HQQ METHOD AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLAVGR IMPARTING AGENTS INTO MAN- UFACTLJRED TOBACCO ARTICLES Walter T. Canan, Duarte, Calif.

(2250 4th Ave., San Diego, Calif.) Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 862,100 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-144) This invention relates to articles designed for use by tobacco smokers and is particularly directed to novel methods and means whereby volatile aromatic flavoring agents may be introduced into tobacco and tobacco smoke for the purpose of altering the characteristics thereof and imparting an agreeable flavor and aroma.

Hitherto, flavoring agents have been introduced into smoking tobacco and tobacco articles as a step in tobacco manufacturing processes. Also it has been proposed to introduce flavoring agents into smoking tobacco, cigarettes and cigars by the expedient of storing the tobacco articles in a confined space together with certain volatizable substances. In the latter case over a period of time some of the characteristics of the volatiles are transferred to the tobacco; however these prior methods have left much to be desired. It is especially significant that prior methods of this type have afforded the smoker little or no control over the flavoring process.

The present invention constitutes a departure from the aforesaid prior methods in that there is herewith made available a means whereby the smoker may introduce flavor into the tobacco article manually and selectively immediately prior to consuming the tobacco. Following the present invention there is provided a convenient method available to the smoker for applying to already manufactured tobacco articles a local amount of flavoring agent as will hereinafter appear.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide the smoker with a convenient means for applying to tobacco articles, taste and aroma modifying agents, in an extemporaneous and selectively controllable manner, wholly within the taste and preferences of the smoker.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for accomplishing the aforesaid objects and advantages. Specifically it is within the objects of the present invention to furnish the smoker with means whereby he may individually mentholate his preferred brand of cigarette.

The features constituting the several novelties which are characteristic of the subject matter of the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and made a part of this specification. However in order that the invention and its inherent advantages and specific objects may be fully understood and readily practiced, a description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention is hereinafter set forth.

In general the present invention contemplates the provision of a small and compact applicator supplied with an aroma imparting material. This material preferably consists of a menthol composition with which may be incorporated, if desired, other aroma or smoke modifying agents, or agents modifying the burning characteristics of the tobacco, which substance or substances may be dissolved in a suitable solvent but preferably are supplied in substantially solid form. If the dissolved form be used, a solvent such as ethyl alcohol or ether is suitable. The solution may be put up in plastic deformable containers of the type known as squeeze bottles or in rigid containers from which the solution may be expelled in the form of a spray by a cylinder containing a gas, such as carbon dioxide, under pressure.

My preferred method involves the employment of applicators in the form of swabs. The shank portion of the swab may conveniently be made of wood, plastic, or cellulose composition material in the form of a rigid stick or split having a head formed of a menthol composition. These applicators may be readily manufactured by the following process: a quantity of menthol composition is placed in a suitable vessel and heated to melting temperature. In the melted menthol a splint is immersed only to the extent of the tip thereof, then withdrawn, permitting the menthol composition to cool and form a solid coating on the tip. This coated tip is again and repeatedly dipped in and withdrawn from the molten menthol until the augmented coating has acquired a thickness commensurate with the diameter of the shank.

The volatile components of the head of the applicator are preserved by wrapping with a cover of a substantially vapor impervious thin sheet material such as plastic or aluminum foil which may be crimped or held in place by means of an adhesive. It is desirable also that there be inserted under the cover and extending out therefrom a stripping band to facilitate release and removal of the cover when preparing the applicator for use.

The manner of packing the applicators should carry out the purposes of the invention. A convenient form is the furnishing of a separate packet small enough to carry in the pocket. If preferred the applicators may be packed with cigarettes in a single package.

When it is intended to prepare a cigarette for smoking the smoker first lights his cigarette. Upon applying to the warm end of the cigarette the head of an applicator the composition thereof will be raised to a temperature suificiently high to melt the menthol which in this state penetrates through the paper and contacts the tobacco. The presence of menthol in the smoke will be found to be definitely perceptible thereafter. It now will be clear in what manner the smoker is enabled to apply exactly the amount of menthol suitable to his taste. One stroke of the applicator will furnish a lightly mentholated smoke; several strokes will increase the mentholation.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the manner of applying a menthol solution in the form of a spray to a tobacco pipe.

FIG. 2 shows a packet containing menthol applicators.

FIG. 3 shows details of a single applicator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a squeeze bottle from which menthol solution may be sprayed as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the method of using the stick applicators shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 shows in partially broken away form, a pressure spray device from which a spray of menthol solution may be delivered.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, a squeeze bottle 10 containing a solution of menthol in alcohol is used to form a coating on the interior of a tobacco pipe 12 immediately prior to smoking same. As will be understood the menthol solution may alternatively be applied to tobacco in the pipe if preferred. FIG. 2 shows a convenient packet arrangement comprising a cover portion 14 containing a plurality of stick applicators 16. These stick applicators, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, consist of two main parts: a shank portion 18 and a head portion 20. In order to prevent evaporation of the menthol composition of which the head if formed a wrapping or cover 22 is placed thereover and may be secured by crimping or adhesive means. To facilitate removal of the head wrapping preliminary to using the applicator a stripping band 24 is inserted under the cover 22 at 26 and extends outwardly therefrom. By grasping the stripping band at 28 and pulling upward the cover may be removed as will readily be apparent.

In FIG. 5, heat from the burning end of a lighted cigarette is warming the portion 30 to a temperature suificient to liquify the menthol. When the smoker applies the head 20 of the applicator to the warm portion of the cigarette, close to the burning end and drawing the head thereacross with a short stroke, a moist area is formed giving an indication that the menthol has been removed from the head 20 and transferred to the cigarette. The liquified menthol immediately penetrates through the paper and disappears into the interior of the cigarette. A large or small amount of menthol may thus be transferred to the cigarette, the smoker repeating the strokes of the applicator as many times as desired. On smoking the cigarette it now will be found that the menthol flavor comes through with the smoke from the burning tobacco. I have found that the coating of menthol constituting the head and formed by the previously herein described method may conveniently be in amount sufficient for the impregnation of several cigarettes.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a pressure spray device 34 for supplying menthol in liquid form. Such spray device may be used in lieu of the squeeze bottle shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; The pressure spray device is provided with a pressure cylinder 36 containing a gas such as carbon dioxide under pressure and With a container 38 for a liquid solution 40 containing dissolved menthol. Finger operation of the button 42 releases the gas which by venturi action or other conventional system expels a spray of menthol solution from nozzle 44.

By the term menthol composition as herein employed is meant the compound menthol in the form commercially available, menthol in conjunction with a compatible vehicle therefor, and menthol in association with other volatile congeneric or additive substances, aromatics and essential oils. By the term aromatic reference is bad to substances of agreeable odor or taste. The term flavor herein refers to the characteristics of tobacco smoke involving taste and odor. In the employment of the term manufactured tobacco smoking articles it is intended to include ready-to-smoke articles and preparations such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

I claim:

1. A method of selectively and controllably introducing by means of an applicator, a flavor modifying agent into a tobacco article comprising tobacco filler material and a wrapper therefor, said wrapper extending for at least part of its area over and in contact with the combustible portion of said tobacco filler material, and being composed for at least part of that area which is in contact with the combustible portion of said filler material, of a material that is porous and liquid penetratable, said applicator comprising a shank portion and a head portion, the latter portion being formed from a heat liquifiable composition consisting essentially of menthol; comprising the following steps: lighting said tobacco article, and manually and frictionally contacting the head portion of said applicator against the heated area of said wrapper close to the burning portion of said tobacco article, whereby the composition of said head portion of said applicator is liquified, and whereby said liquified composition penetrates through said wrapper into said tobacco filler material, thereby imparting the flavor of menthol to said tobacco article.

2. A method of selectively and controllably introducing by means of an applicator, a flavor modifying agent into a cigarette comprising tobacco filler material and a wrapper therefor, said wrapper extending for at least part of its area over and in contact with the combustible portion of said tobacco filler material, and being composed for at least part of that area which is in contact with the combustible portion of said filler material, of a material that is porous and liquid penetratable, said applicator comprising a shank portion and a head portion, the latter portion being formed of a heat liquifiable composition consisting essentially of menthol; comprising the following steps: lighting said cigarette, and manually and frictionally contacting the head portion of said applicator against the heated area of said wrapper close to the burning portion of said cigarette, whereby the composition of said head portion of said applicator is liquified, and whereby said liquified composition penetrates through said wrapper into said tobacco filler material, thereby imparting the flavor of menthol to said cigarette.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 106,773 Blake Aug. 30, 1870 1,972,718 Sharlit Sept. 4, 1934 2,042,584 Bustamante June 2, 1936 2,168,585 Schwartz Aug. 8, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 261,049, Lande (A.P.C.), published May 11, 1943. 

1. A METHOD OF SELECTIVELY AND CONTROLLABLY INTRODUCING BY MEANS OF AN APPLICATOR, A FLAVOR MODIFYING AGENT INTO A TOBACCO ARTICLE COMPRISING TOBACCO FILLER MATERIAL AND A WRAPPER THEREFOR, SAID WRAPPER EXTENDING FOR AT LEAST PART OF ITS AREA OVER AND IN CONTACT WITH THE COMBUSTIBLE PORTION OF SAID TOBACCO FILLER MATERIAL, AND BEING COMPOSED FOR AT LEAST PART OF THAT AREA WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH THE COMBUSTIBLE PORTION OF SAID FILLER MA- 